The Best Hearing Aids of 2018

Here in the hearing aid world, technology keeps getting better. With each new year, we experience extraordinary improvements and advancements in listening features, device construction, and aesthetic design. As hearing aid manufacturers roll out sleeker and smarter models, how do we even begin to sort through the best? Below are our picks of the best hearing aids of 2018.

Signia NX

Hear the way nature intended with the new Signia Nx. This brand-new, ultra-fast processing platform captures your own voice in its most natural state, and is also designed for “first fit acceptance.” With a new pair of hearing aids, people may take days, weeks, or even months, coming to accept the sound of their own voice.

Adjusting to new hearing aids requires patience and time – until now, with Signia’s Own Voice Processing (OVP) feature. A 2017 study found that Signia Nx’s OVP improves spontaneous acceptance after the first fit of hearing aids for 75% of dissatisfied wearers. It doesn’t end with your own voice, though. Signia Nx improves audibility and speech understanding in noise, with features such as Ultra HD e2e binaural beamforming technology.

Even more, the fitting and adjustment process is made so much easier with the TeleCare 3.0 remote hearing care feature. Experience remote fine-tuning of your listening experience by your hearing specialist, as though you’ve just received a virtual house call. Stream calls and other media wirelessly with Signia Nx’s Bluetooth compatibility.

Oticon Opn

Pronounced “open,” Opn provides wearers with an open sound solution. Unlike other advanced hearing aids that provide a cone of focus, Opn captures a wider scope of sound, empowering the brain to choose where it wants to focus. The Opn mini-receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid is a rechargeable device, which saves you up to 200 disposable batteries a year. Built into the device itself, Opn’s lithium-ion battery recharges quickly and provides a long battery life, ensuring confidence wherever your day takes you. Opn is fully customizable in a number of colors, to match skin and hair tones. For people who suffer from tinnitus (“ringing of the ear”), check out Opn’s sound therapy, Tinnitus SoundSupport, which offers ocean sounds and synthetic tones for relief.

Phonak Audeo B-R

Phonak has always been at the forefront of innovation, but even the Phonak Audeo B-R surprised us! This flexible, unique, rechargeable hearing solution has it all: long battery life, sleek design, small size, and incredible listening features. Powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery, the Audeo B-R provides up to 24 hours of listening on a single charge.

Even more, you don’t have to replace the battery for the lifetime of the hearing aid which saves a huge amount of hassle in your day to day. With fully automatic features, Phonak Audeo B-R provides you with effortless listening no matter the environment.

In particular, Phonak Audeo B-R is equipped with improved understanding in noise, allowing you to zoom in on a single voice in a noisy space, with 60% improved speech understanding. The same goes for quiet noises, with 100% improvement in soft-speech understanding.

For the most technologically advanced hearing aids, look no further than this trio of Made for iPhone hearing aids. Starkey is the only American company of the bunch, with its Halo iQ, the third iteration of its illustrious and well-decorated Made for iPhone hearing aid. Since its inception, the Halo family of hearing aids has received countless national and international design and tech awards.

Similarly, ReSound’s LiNX 3D is also in its third iteration, connect people to all of the sounds in their life, through incredible wireless streaming technology.

The Danish brand Widex recently introduced its own Made for iPhone hearing aid, the BEYOND.

These three hearing aids share as much in common as they do differences. Their main commonality is their trustworthy connection to your smartphone, allowing you to stream phone calls, music, and other media directly to your hearing aids. Control your listening experience with their downloadable apps, which also come with a number of excellent features, from saved GPS locations to fine-tuning noise levels in your environment.

To figure out which one would work best for you, talk your trusted local audiologist.

Selecting the Right Hearing Aid

You know your daily life and activities and your hearing needs, but before you decide on one of these advanced hearing aids, be sure to get your hearing tested! Hearing aids are an excellent investment in your overall health and well-being, and you want to make sure you’ve got the right devices to meet your needs.

At Hearing Press, we recommend finding a provider that offers a comprehensive hearing test, hearing aid fitting, and in-person learning session with a licensed hearing professional in your town. Beyond this, according to your need, your audiologist should also provide flexible options for customer care, with many different custom-tailored aftercare plans. For fine-tuning, follow-up appointments, and further instruction with your hearing devices, connect with your hearing provider.